49ers could be about to lose a crucial member of their front office as Jaguars continue search for Trent Baalke replacement
The San Francisco 49ers have revamped their coaching staff this offseason in response to a desperately disappointing 6-11 season, but they won't be eager to lose staff from a front office that delivered an impressive draft in 2024. However, the 49ers may well do so after the Jacksonville Jaguars decided to turn their attention to […]
The San Francisco 49ers have revamped their coaching staff this offseason in response to a desperately disappointing 6-11 season, but they won't be eager to lose staff from a front office that delivered an impressive draft in 2024.
However, the 49ers may well do so after the Jacksonville Jaguars decided to turn their attention to a key member of the San Francisco front office in their search for a new general manager.
The Jaguars fired Trent Baalke as their general manager last month. Baalke, who had an initially successful but ultimately infamous stint as the 49ers' GM, was let go by the Jags after Liam Coen withdrew himself from the running for the head coach job.
Coen was subsequently hired by the Jaguars, allowing the 49ers to rehire Robert Saleh for a second spell as defensive coordinator. Saleh had been scheduled for a second interview for the Jags' coaching vacancy.
In the running to replace Baalke is 49ers director of scouting and football operations Josh Williams.
The Jaguars, per NFL Media's Ian Rapoport, requested an interview with Williams for the GM role.
Williams has spent 14 seasons with the 49ers, taking over their scouting and football operations after two years as their national scout.
His interview with the Jaguars may well have come on the recommendation of Jacksonville's interim general manager Ethan Waugh.
Prior to being hired as assistant GM of the Jags in 2022, Waugh had spent just shy of 18 years with the 49ers, spending his final two seasons with San Francisco as the vice-president of player personnel.
The crossover between Waugh and Williams will likely have been a significant factor in the latter receiving an interview request, leaving the Niners potentially in the difficult position of losing the man leading their scouting operation with a crucial draft just a matter of months away.
Much of the work for this year's draft is already done, but the Niners still won't have any desire to see such a valued and experienced member of the front office leave the organization.
The upside for the 49ers is that they would receive compensatory third-round picks for the next two years if the Jaguars do indeed hire Williams, who is a minority candidate.
But continuity in the front office is important. The Jaguars gave the 49ers a helping hand in enabling them to rehire Saleh. Now the hope will be that Jacksonville doesn't now decide to deal San Francisco a setback by stealing Williams away.
Pending 49ers free agent makes confident claim about what they will be missing if he makes his widely expected departure
He’s not likely to return to the team.
